Mimulus plant named ‘Bosburber’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mimulus  plant named ‘Bosburber’, characterized by its dark red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low vigor, and compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Mimulus aurantiacus.

Variety denomination: ‘Bosburber’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mimulus plant botanically known as Mimulus aurantiacus and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Bosburber’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during April 2009. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Mimulus cultivars with large flowers, attractive flower coloration, and a compact-upright growth habit.

The new Mimulus cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of Mimulus aurantiacus ‘Valentine’, not patented, characterized by its medium red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during July 2010 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2010 in Guadalupe, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Bosburber’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Mimulus plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low vigor; and     -   4. Compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in growth vigor and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Mimulus cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Jelly Bean Red’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Jelly Bean Red’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of         ‘Jelly Bean Red’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a larger corolla than plants         of ‘Jelly Bean Red’.

In addition, the new cultivar is similar to ‘Georgie Red’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,916. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Georgie Red’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of         ‘Georgie Red’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a larger corolla than plants         of ‘Georgie Red’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is redder         than plants of ‘Georgie Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Bosburber’. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 13 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Bosburber’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Bosburber’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in March 2013 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 13 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Mimulus aurantiacus cultivar Bosburber. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female and male parent.—Mimulus aurantiacus ‘Valentine’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 14 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 25             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low growth vigor, and             compact-upright growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 25.0 cm. Width: Approximately 29.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Length:             Approximately 18.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture:             Glabrous, viscid, densely glandular pubescent. Color of             young stems: 145B. Color of mature stems: 199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 16. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, slightly reflexed.             Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Rounded acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 5.7 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, glossy. Texture             of lower surface: Glabrous, viscid, densely glandular             pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: 137A with indistinguishable venation. Color of             lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B             with midvein of 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous, viscid, densely             glandular pubescent. Color: 144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Bosburber’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             2 to 3 weeks. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform, zygomorphic,             axillary, facing outward. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 17. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 2.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongate. Length:             Approximately 3.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous, slightly viscid, glandular pubescent.             Color: Sepals of 144B with folded midvein area of 137A,             lobes of closest to 177B.         -   Corolla.—Vertical axis: Approximately 4.5 cm. Horizontal             axis: Approximately 4.2 cm.         -   Lobes.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Fan-shaped,             upper two lobes slightly reflexed. Margin: Irregularly             sinuate and ruffled. Apex: Obtuse to truncate. Length from             tube of upper two lobes: Approximately 2.1 cm. Length from             tube of lower lobes: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of upper             two lobes: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width of lower lobes:             Approximately 1.6 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: Closest to             53A. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:             Closest to 177C with an overlay of 53A. Color of upper             surface when fully open: Closest to 53A with 53B.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 4.3 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of inner surface: 76D with an overlay of 24B             and with two nectar glides at base of lower lobe of 24A.             Color of outer surface: Closest to 177C to 177D with an             overlay of 53A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused. Shape: Elliptic,             folded at midveins. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length:             Approximately 3.0 cm with one upper sepal of approximately             3.2 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous, slightly viscid, glandular             pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 144B with             folded midvein area of 137A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Color: 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,             didynamous, basifixed. Stamen length of longer pair:             Approximately 3.9 cm. Stamen length of shorter pair:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Filament length of fixed portion:             Approximately 2.1 cm. Filament color: 1C. Anther shape:             Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther             color: 25B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 4B.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 4.2 cm. Stigma shape: Flattened, bilobed.             Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 155D.             Style length: Approximately 3.6 cm. Style color: 155A. Ovary             length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Mimulus has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Mimulus plant named ‘Bosburber’, substantially as herein shown and described. 